Doppler ultrasound scoring to predict chemotherapeutic response in advanced breast cancer

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Doppler ultrasonography (US) is increasingly being utilized as an imaging modality in breast cancer. It is used to study the vascular characteristics of the tumor. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy is the standard modality of treatment in locally advanced breast cancer. Histological examination remains the gold standard to assess the chemotherapy response. However, based on the color Doppler findings, a new scoring system that could predict histological response following chemotherapy is proposed.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Fifty cases of locally advanced infiltrating duct carcinoma of the breast were studied. The mean age of the patients was 44.5 years. All patients underwent clinical, Doppler and histopathological assessment followed by three cycles of CAF (Cyclophosphamide, Adriamycin and 5-Fluorouracil) chemotherapy, repeat clinical and Doppler examination and surgery. The resected specimens were examined histopathologically and histological response was correlated with Doppler findings. The Doppler characteristics of the tumor were graded as 1–4 for <25%, 25–50%, >50% and complete disappearance of flow signals respectively. A cumulative score was calculated and compared with histopathological response. Results were analyzed using Chi square test, sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The maximum Doppler score according to the proposed scoring system was twelve and minimum three. Higher scores corresponded with a more favorable histopathological response. Twenty four patients had complete response to chemotherapy. Sixteen of these 24 patients (66.7%) had a cumulative Doppler score more than nine. The sensitivity of cumulative score >5 was 91.7% and specificity was 38.5%. The area under the ROC curve of the cumulative score >9 was 0.72.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Doppler scoring can be accurately used to objectively predict the response to chemotherapy in patients with locally advanced breast cancer and it correlates well with histopathological response.</p

Observation of Photovoltaic Action from Photoacid-Modified Nafion Due to Light-Driven Ion Transport

Replacing passive ion-exchange membranes, like Nafion, with membranes that use light to drive ion transport would allow membranes in photoelectrochemical technologies to serve in an active role. Toward this, we modified perfluorosulfonic acid ionomer membranes with organic pyrenol-based photoacid dyes to sensitize the membranes to visible light and initiate proton transport. Covalent modification of the membranes was achieved by reacting Nafion sulfonyl fluoride poly(perfluorosulfonyl fluoride) membranes with the photoacid 8-hydroxypyrene-1,3,6-tris(2-aminoethylsulfonamide). The modified membranes were strongly colored and maintained a high selectivity for cations over anions. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and ion-exchange measurements together provided strong evidence of covalent bond formation between the photoacids and the polymer membranes. Visible-light illumination of the photoacid-modified membranes resulted in a maximum power-producing ionic photoresponse of ∼100 μA/cm2 and ∼1 mV under 40 Suns equivalent excitation with 405 nm light. In comparison, membranes that did not contain photoacids and instead contained ionically associated RuII-polypyridyl coordination compound dyes, which are not photoacids, exhibited little-to-no photoeffects (∼1 μA/cm2). These disparate photocurrents, yet similar yields for nonradiative excited-state decay from the photoacids and the RuII dyes, suggest temperature gradients were not likely the cause of the observed photovoltaic action from photoacid-modified membranes. Moreover, spectral response measurements supported that light absorption by the covalently bound photoacids was required in order to observe photoeffects. These results represent the first demonstration of photovoltaic action from an ion-exchange membrane and offer promise for supplementing the power demands of electrochemical processes with renewable sunlight-driven ion transport

Synthesis, characterization and biological activity study of some new palladium(II) complexes containing amine or azomethine groups

This study reports the preparative methods of two types of palladium(II) complexes. The first method revealed two newly palladium (II) complexes derived from bidentate amine ligands, and the second one describes six newly palladium(II) complexes derived from bidentate Schiff base ligands. All the synthesized complexes have been characterized by elemental analysis, conductivity measurements, UV-Visible, FT-IR and 1H NMR spectral data. In vitro, all the synthesized complexes have been tested for their growth inhibitory activity against Gram negative bacteria Escherichia coli and Gram positive Staphylococcus aureus as well as determining the minimum inhibitory concentration. In addition, the interactions between compounded complexes and human DNA were also studied

Protocol for a feasibility study and process evaluation of a psychosocially modelled diabetes education programme for young people with type 1 diabetes:the Youth Empowerment Skills (YES) programme

INTRODUCTION: Adolescence is a challenging period for young people with type 1 diabetes, associated with worsening glycaemia and care disengagement. Educational interventions in this period tend to focus on diabetes-specific skills, with less emphasis on the psychosocial challenges associated with diabetes experienced by young people. To address this limitation, we codesigned with young people a psychosocially modelled programme of diabetes education, named ‘Youth Empowerment Skills’ (YES). The programme aims to facilitate a positive adaptation to life with diabetes and engagement with diabetes care through peer-based learning, immersive simulations and support from an outreach youth worker. Here, we present a protocol for a feasibility study of the YES programme. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: The study was designed following the Medical Research Council Complex Intervention Evaluation Framework to: test the feasibility (acceptance, implementability, recruitment and completion) of the YES programme; and estimate its efficacy in relation to metabolic and psychosocial outcomes. The study will take place in diabetes centres serving socioculturally diverse populations. We will conduct a feasibility randomised controlled trial (waiting-list design) with integrated process evaluation. Fifty young people with type 1 diabetes (aged 14–19 years) will be randomly allocated to either the YES intervention or a waiting-list control. Randomisation acceptability will be assessed with provision for a preference allocation. Outcomes will be evaluated at 6 months, at which point the waiting list participants will be exposed to the YES programme with further follow-up to 12 months. A simultaneous process evaluation will use a mixed-methods approach collecting qualitative and quantitative data. Study findings will be used to optimise the intervention components, outcome measures and recruitment methods to inform a subsequent definitive trial. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The protocol has ethical approval from the UK Health Research Authority (approval IRAS project ID: 279877). Findings will be disseminated in multiple formats for lay and professional audiences. PROTOCOL DATE AND VERSION: 7 April 2021, V.1.1. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT04670198